Health Services

If your child is struggling with substance abuse, please contact school personnel who can help identify support for your student and family.

High School Counselors, 610-326-5105:

Stephen Kincaid- ext. 7389

Jill Bossler- ext. 7391

Lisa Childs- ext. 7388

Kyra Ebert- ext. 7390

Middle School Counselors, 610-326-8243:

DiAinni Dennis- ext. 2052

Cristina Kleinfelter- ext. 2054

Elementary School Counselors:

Jen Flanagan (Lower)- 610-323-7510 ext. 4050

Jen Snyder (West)- 610-323-6510 ext. 5032

Wendi Kiley (Ringing Rocks)- 610-323-0903 ext. 3030

District Social Workers

Grades K-5: Tiffany Wagner - 610-327-2277 ext. 6562

Grades 6-12: Kristin Heaney - 610-327-2277 ext. 7379

It is important that your emergency contact information is accurate. It is necessary that we have your phone numbers (home, work, and cell) as well as the phone numbers of two additional friends, neighbors, or family members that will assume temporary care of your child if you cannot be reached. In case of an emergency when parents cannot be reached, the parent’s signature authorizes the school to call physicians listed on the sheet and to make arrangements for emergency medical care if needed. Please log on PowerSchool Parent Portal to check this information and update it as necessary. Please be sure the emergency contacts you list know that the school may contact them and are willing to pick your child up from school when you are unavailable. It also helps if your emergency contacts are easily reached by phone when you are not.

Please notify the office immediately of any changes or additions that need to be made to your child’s emergency information during the school year. 

In order for the nursing staff to carry out comprehensive health care for our students, they must depend on your cooperation, particularly in the following areas:

1. Emergency contact information must be complete and up to date.
2. Any health questionnaires brought home should be completed and returned.
3. If your child receives any immunization, has surgery, or is treated for accident/illness outside of school, please notify the school nurse.
4. Inform the school office of any change in address, phone number, or emergency contacts.

Health information given to the school nurse is considered both privileged and confidential. This means that the information will be shared only on a need-to-know basis for the safety and well-being of the child.

The health and wellness of our children are a national priority. At PGSD, we address our children's health and wellness needs with a comprehensive approach that includes health screenings, physical activity programs, and education.

All children enrolled in Pennsylvania schools will have their height and weight measured, and then used to calculate their body mass index (BMI) as part of the PA Growth Screening Program. BMI is a screening tool used to determine whether a child is overweight or underweight.

Your child's BMI is based on the ratio of height to weight. BMI is reported as a percentile ranking based on the child's age and gender. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) created the percentile ranges to identify children who may be at risk for serious health conditions such as insulin resistance (a precursor to diabetes) and heart disease.

Like all screening tools, BMI can produce some false positives or negatives. For example, a student may have an artificially high BMI due to a high level of lean body tissue or muscle, as may be found in a well-conditioned athlete. That's why it's so important to follow up with your doctor if your child's BMI is high or low.

Your child's BMI is strictly confidential and will not be discussed with anyone other than you and your child. Please share your child's BMI information with your child's healthcare provider. Your doctor or nurse is in the best position to evaluate your child's overall health.

Feel free to call your child's school nurse with any questions you have about the Growth Screening Program.

Other health screenings include:
Height, Weight & Vision- K-12
Hearing- Grades K, 1, 2, 3, 7, & 11
Scoliosis- Grades 6 & 7
Dental- K, 3 & 7
Physicals- K, 6 & 11

Students and parents are frequently concerned about possible illness and whether they should stay home or attend school. We ask that you follow these guidelines:

1. If a student has a fever of 100 degrees or more, the student should stay home for 24 hours after the temperature has returned to normal.
2. If a student has vomited or has diarrhea, the student should stay home until 24 hours after the last episode.
3. If a student has any rash that may be disease-related or you do not know the cause, check with your family health provider before sending the child to school.
4. If your child has red eyes with drainage or crusting, keep your child home and contact your family health provider. If "pink eye" is diagnosed, the student may return to school after the first 24 hours of treatment.
5. If a student is experiencing symptoms of a respiratory illness, contact your family health provider before sending your child to school.

Care of Sick and Injured Children

Health services are offered to students who become ill or injured during the school day. Standing orders for treatment written by the school physician are implemented by the certified school nurse or the registered nurse assistant. If a case appears to require immediate medical attention, parents are notified as quickly as possible.

Parents may be asked to pick up their children from school under the following circumstances:

1. The child has a fever of 100.0 degrees or above.
2. The child is vomiting and/or has diarrhea.
3. The child has a rash that may be disease related.
4. The child does not feel well enough to return to the classroom.
5. The child is experiencing symptoms of a respiratory illness. Please note: Your child will be asked to wear a mask when in the health room.

Parents may also be asked to follow-up with a medical professional regarding diagnosis and treatment of illnesses. Parents and/or guardians and the child’s medical provider are responsible for the care of the student. School health service staff provide support to families in their responsibility of caring for their children.

Suicide Prevention Month is observed nationally each September and aims to draw attention to the devastating effects of suicide and how to prevent it.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).